VW California SE 2014 - problem with stiff bench seat

vw02 · 2025-09-13T10:54:58+0100

Hi there

We have recently bought a VW California SE 2014 and when pulling the bench seat out to make the bed, it can be really hard to manoeuvre, it is juddering whilst moving on the runner. Also the handle doesn't lock back where it should do, the handle is flapping and loose, but if I lift the seat very slightly up and down, it will then lock.

I would of thought when the van was new, it would have been a smooth mechanism ?

I wondered if lubricating the runners or the seat mechanism with a tiny amount of grease would help ? if so not sure how best to go about it ?

Any ideas are greatly welcome.

Beeechke1 · 2025-09-13T13:35:17+0100

There is definitely a knack to pulling the bench seat forward, most owners on here seem to use the following method.
Sit in the middle of the bench, feet on floor, and pull the seat forward using your bum. If you get juddering its usually because the bench is twisting slightly, hence you need to sit dead centre.
When the bench reaches the stops in its fully forward position, just release the lever and then push back slightly until the handle latches back down.

Hope this helps, we have a 2010 Se and have never lubricated the runners.

vw02 · 2025-09-13T13:49:53+0100

Beeechke1 said:
There is definitely a knack to pulling the bench seat forward, most owners on here seem to use the following method.
Sit in the middle of the bench, feet on floor, and pull the seat forward using your bum. If you get juddering its usually because the bench is twisting slightly, hence you need to sit dead centre.
When the bench reaches the stops in its fully forward position, just release the lever and then push back slightly until the handle latches back down.

Hope this helps, we have a 2010 Se and have never lubricated the runners.

many thanks for this tip, we will try this, we have only ever been pulling the bed without sitting on it. didn't realise ! thanks.